Proactive Initiative Results in 89 Arrests

Polk County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a proactive initiative on Thursday, October 7, 2010, that resulted in 89 arrests countywide on charges such as Possession of Cannabis, Burglary, Grand Theft, Driving While License Suspended, and various Warrants.

As part of the Polk County Sheriff’s Proactive Community Attack on Problems (PROCAP), crime analysts gather data each day and study crime trends, and then deliver that information to deputies. Each day, crime analysts and law enforcement members strategize which parts of the county would most benefit from law enforcement resources, before crime becomes a trend.

“Historically, the crime rate in Polk County has been at an all-time low, since we implemented our proactive PROCAP program,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “When we conduct these PROCAP initiatives, we focus on putting criminals behind bars, and keeping the people of Polk County safe.”

On October 7th, deputies from the East and West Regions and detectives from support units focused on areas of the county that experienced higher than average volumes of property crimes this year. During this initiative, deputies made hundreds of citizen contacts, and numerous traffic stops. In all, 89 suspects were arrested.

Some arrests significant in nature are:

·A traffic stop was conducted on a silver Nissan Altima where a detective located a concealed .9 mm semi-automatic handgun in the center console of the car. The suspect, Henry Patterson, DOB 8/24/60, who was just arrested in April 2010 by Lakeland Police Department for Carrying a Concealed Firearm, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, was found in possession of 5 grams of Cocaine. When the detective verified Patterson’s name and date of birth, he found that Patterson had a U.S. Marshal’s out-of-state warrant for his arrest for Trafficking in Cocaine. Patterson is now being held in the Polk County Jail on charges of: Possession of Cocaine within 1,000 Feet of a School, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of a Concealed Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Use of a Vehicle to Sell Narcotics, and Possession of Paraphernalia. He is also on hold for the U.S. Marshal’s Office.

·Several deputies responded to 230 South Cleveland Avenue in Fort Meade and arrested Trey Williams, DOB 12/30/89, for Armed Burglary, Aggravated Battery with a Weapon, Possession of Burglary Tools, and Grand Theft. Williams was positively identified by a homeowner in Fort Meade earlier that day when Williams was caught by the homeowner attempting to break into the man’s home. When the victim attempted to detain him, Williams struck the victim in the head with a circular saw and fled the scene on a bicycle, dropping a bag full of stolen items in the process.

·A traffic stop was conducted on a white 1993 Ford pickup truck at Davis Avenue and West Parker Street by a detective who observed the driver was not wearing a seat belt. The driver was found to have no valid driver’s license, and the truck was found stolen out of Hillsborough County on September 27, 2010. The suspect, Shawn Whitford, DOB 6/5/83, of 4106 North Galloway Road in Lakeland, was arrested and charged with No Valid DL, and Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle.

“One of the philosophies of PROCAP is: the person who drives a car with some kind of violation—a broken tag light, swerving, improper tag, aggressive driving—may be the same person who stole that car earlier that day, or broke into someone’s home,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “We routinely conduct initiatives like these so that the community knows there is always a law enforcement presence out there, keeping them safe.”